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John Stephen Calder

Age : 40

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/31/2024

Location : Illinois Route 71 and East 2631st Road

City : Norway

County : LaSalle

State : Illinois

Agency : LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Suicide

Event : Suicide under police duress

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/31/2024, at approximately 1:30 a.m., John Stephen Calder, 40, of Yorkville died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office vehicle pursuit on Illinois Route 71 near Sheridan. Calder was driving a Chevrolet pickup and was the only person in the vehicle.
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A LaSalle County sheriff’s deputy attempted a traffic stop of Calder’s pickup on Route 71. Calder continued driving away and the deputy pursued him. Available reporting describes the initiating event only as a traffic stop and does not provide the specific traffic violation or other reason the deputy initially attempted to stop Calder.
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The pursuit continued on Route 71 until Calder’s pickup left the roadway and crashed near the intersection of Route 71 and East 2631st Road near Sheridan. Calder was pronounced dead at the scene.
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A forensic autopsy was conducted on 08/31/2024. LaSalle County Coroner Richard Ploch reported that preliminary autopsy findings showed Calder sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound before the vehicle crashed. His death and the crash were investigated by the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office and Illinois State Police.
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Calder was born September 16, 1983, in Hinsdale, Illinois. He graduated from Downers Grove North High School and Universal Technical Institute and was employed by Onco360. He was the father of a daughter and also had a stepson. His memorial service was held September 6, 2024, in Bolingbrook.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.lasallecountynews.com/pursuit-john-calder-suicide-case
https://www.chicagotribune.com/lasalle-county-pursuit-2024-update
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/lasalle-deputies-high-speed-chase-suicide